Natural Gas Pipeline Safety A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

Transcription

1 Natural Gas Pipeline Safety A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

2 Tapping Into the Power of Cooperation and Communication GAS PIPELINE SAFETY STARTS WITH A PARTNERSHIP It feels like magic, that instant delivery of reliable energy. But the vast network of pipelines that span the country transporting natural gas from the wellhead to your stovetop is no trick. Decades of planning and development have created the world s safest interstate natural gas transport system safer than highway, rail, airborne and waterborne transport. Millions of people depend on a consistent flow of natural gas to heat their homes, feed their families and power their lives. Dominion Energy works to fill that need by operating and maintaining nearly 8,000 miles of natural gas pipeline across six states. But at Dominion Energy, connecting customers with clean, reliable energy is only our part-time job. Our full-time job is safety. Nothing is more important than safety; it is our top priority and No. 1 core value. As one of the leading suppliers of natural gas across the Mid-West, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, we are committed to safe operations, safe facilities and safety-minded employees. But we can t do it alone. Our continued success depends on cooperation and communication among pipeline operators, contracted staff, landowners, emergency response teams, and local community members. We routinely conduct community awareness programs and coordinate with local first responders to establish emergency procedures. We have the technology, infrastructure, and protocols in place. But safety is more than manuals, rules and procedures. It s more than a computer program or the flip of a switch. Safety is information and understanding. Safety is knowing what to do, who to call, and how to spot minor issues before they escalate into something more serious. Working together as a team, we can keep our communities safe. We work closely with our community partners to establish and maintain safety protocols. Pipes and valves are visually inspected from the air and on the ground. 2

3 Call 811 Before You Dig: It s the Law. Homes and businesses are connected by an underground network of power lines, telecommunication wires, and pipes carrying natural gas, water and other materials. It is impossible to know the location of all underground facilities in a given area, but it can be costly and dangerous to dig in an area without knowing. This is why the national Call 811 system was developed. 811 is a FREE call and is REQUIRED by state law for any work that will disturb the earth. Calling 811 provides an automatic connection to the state One Call center. One Call centers provide one telephone number for citizens to call if they intend to use equipment for excavating, blasting, tunneling, or other similar work. The state One Call center will determine the location of all underground facilities. Please call three working days prior to the start of the project. If Dominion Energy is involved, qualified Dominion Energy personnel will be onsite to monitor any excavation within ten feet of the pipeline. Call 811 before doing any work that disturbs the earth. Call 811 before doing any work that disturbs the earth. One Call numbers in the Dominion Energy area include: NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina 811: NEW YORK Dig Safely New York: New York 811: MARYLAND Miss Utility District One Call: OHIO Ohio Utilities Protection Service: PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania One Call System Inc.: VIRGINIA Virginia Utility Protection Service: WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia 811: National One Call: 811 3

4 Keys to Safe Pipeline Operation We operate our facilities according to the highest safety standards. Our operators must complete rigorous government-mandated training protocols and meet strict qualification requirements. Our pipeline systems are vast and complex. To ensure pipeline integrity and safety, we focus on several key operational areas: CORROSION PREVENTION Dominion Energy s Gas Control Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We use pipe made of high strength materials that meet or exceed natural gas industry standards and federal regulations. Naturally occurring corrosives, such as water and hydrocarbons, are removed from the natural gas at processing plants before the gas is delivered into transmission pipelines. Additionally, gas quality is tested at strategic points to determine the potential for, and minimize the likelihood of, internal corrosion. External corrosion is controlled through the application of a protective coating, and the use of cathodic protection. Cathodic protection prevents corrosion by applying a low-voltage electrical charge to the pipeline to prevent the loss of steel. MONITORING Skilled welders join sections of pipe. Each individual weld is inspected multiple times. We closely regulate the pressure at which our system operates. When it comes to the pipeline, Dominion Energy is always connected. Our Gas Control Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Facility equipment continuously monitors and controls the flow of natural gas and detects fluctuations, alerting operators immediately if operating conditions change. 4

5 INSPECTION All Dominion Energy pipelines and facilities are inspected regularly to identify potential problems and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations governing operation and maintenance. Operating pipelines are visually inspected by trained personnel through aerial patrols and surveys conducted on foot. Many of these inspections include instrument-aided leak surveys. Valves, transmitters, regulators, and other critical components are also periodically inspected. In addition, even though pipelines operate under the ground and out of sight, they can be inspected from the inside using in-line inspection tools, such as smart pigs. Smart pigs are devices that travel through the pipeline with the natural gas. The pigs are equipped with various sensors that can detect and characterize pipeline defects. We use these tools to evaluate pipelines for corrosion and any physical damage. These tools assist with early detection and can help us eliminate threats before a serious condition arises. AWARENESS Damage prevention and public awareness are critical to pipeline safety. The more you know, the safer you will be. Our extensive Pipeline Public Awareness Plan provides critical pipeline safety information. Our flow of communication materials includes information about the products Dominion Energy transports, instructions on the utilization of One Call (or Call Before you Dig ) programs, how to recognize hazardous conditions, and what actions to take if such conditions are observed. Our outreach efforts target the general public, individuals living within our pipeline corridor, public officials, contractors, excavators, and emergency response personnel. Methods of communication include mailings, newspaper (or other print) advertisements, and face-to-face meetings (both large and small). In addition to Public Awareness, we actively participate in the One Call programs of each of the states in which we operate. Dominion Energy personnel work closely with excavators and developers to ensure the safety of all parties, and that our facilities are protected from damage. Although pipelines operate underground, in-line inspections can be conducted using smart pigs. 5

6 Respecting the Pipeline Perimeter Natural gas pipelines need space. The right-of-way (ROW) corridor is an important element in maintaining the integrity and safety of the system. The ROW is established through an agreement with the landowner. In the agreement, the landowner grants Dominion Energy the right to use a portion of his or her land to install, operate, and maintain a natural gas pipeline. The agreement remains effective even if the property is sold, and is binding on any future owners. After construction, the ROW may be used for agricultural purposes, lawns and recreational activities. Developments often set it aside for environmental green space. The ROW can also be restored to support wildlife habitat or as a pollinator corridor using native plants to attract pollinator species such as honey bees and butterflies. Although building on the ROW is not permitted, Dominion Energy will work with landowners, developers, and contractors as needed to accommodate crossings of roads, railroads, cables or other utility lines. TO ENSURE PIPELINE SAFETY: Do not construct buildings or other structures on the right-of-way. Do not plant trees or other vegetation that may obstruct the right-of-way. Don t excavate, change the grade or impound water within the right-of-way without permission from Dominion Energy. Don t move heavy equipment or logs across the right-of-way, and avoid blasting within 200 feet of the pipeline without approval from Dominion Energy. FIVE EXAMPLES OF DOMINION ENERGY PIPELINE/HCA MARKERS Vent pipe Linemarker and cathodic protection test station High-consequence area entrance or exit marker (arrow on top) HCA line-of-sight marker Marker and cathodic protection test station 6 6

7 You Can Help PIPELINE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN If you suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. When you get to a safe place, call or 911. We constantly monitor and inspect our system, but we also rely on help from our customers and the community. Your participation is invaluable. You can help by simply being alert when near our facilities or pipeline rights-of-way. A patch of discolored soil, frozen ground (in warm weather) or dead vegetation could indicate a pipeline leak. SIGHT See a patch of discolored soil, frozen ground (in warm weather) or dead vegetation near a pipeline? It could indicate a leak. A leak occurring near standing or flowing water may also cause bubbles. SOUND Hear something out of the ordinary? Leaks may make a loud, high-pitched whistle, hiss or roar. SMELL Smell rotten eggs or sulfur? Although natural gas is odorless, local distribution companies, and some transmission pipelines, add an odorant that gives it a distinctive, repugnant smell. Citizen input is an important part of pipeline maintenance. IMPORTANT! If you see, hear or smell something, say something. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. When you get to a safe place: CALL THE 24-HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBER* or CALL 911 *Dominion Energy s Gas Control Center operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 7

8 A restored right of way in a forested area. IMPORTANT NUMBERS Local Emergency Response 911 Dominion Energy 24-hour emergency line Dominion Energy Integrity Management Call before you dig 811 Dig Safely New York New York North Carolina Ohio Utilities Protection Service Pennsylvania One Call Virginia Utility Protection Service West Virginia DominionEnergy.com Dominion Energy s Pipeline Integrity Management Program embraces the U.S. Department of Transportation s goal of improving safety and raising public confidence in the natural gas industry. For additional information, search IMP on Dominion Energy s website: DominionEnergy.com. June 2017